Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Ronaldo Returns to Madrid for Champions League Round of 16 Matchup
Ronaldo Leads Underdog Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo won it all with Real Madrid between 2009-2018, including two UEFA Champions League Finals against Atletico Madrid. Nowadays, the Portuguese striker is trying to take Manchester United back to the top, but it hasn’t been easy.
Winning the English Premier League title is no longer an option. The Red Devils must go all-in on the UCL, a tournament they haven’t won since 2008. Their first obstacle toward that goal won’t be easy as well. Manchester United must eliminate Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16. Spoiler alert: Los Colchoneros dominate the soccer lines for the first leg.

Athletico Talented Enough
Domestically, Atletico Madrid is sitting in fifth place, 15 points behind Real Madrid. Also, Los Colchoneros were eliminated from the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16. Winning the UCL is all they have left.
Luckily for them, their roster is talented enough to do so, but they need to be more consistent. Last Saturday, Atletico crushed Osasuna 3-0 with goals from Joao Felix, Luis Suarez and Angel Correa. Three days earlier, they lost 1-0 to Levante, the team sitting in last place.
Regarding the UCL, Los Colchoneros suffered more than expected during the Group Stage. They finished second in Group B despite having lost three games. Liverpool gave them a hand by beating AC Milan in the last fixture.
Atletico’s roster is very talented. Last Saturday, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Antoine Griezmann, Renan Lodi, Mario Hermoso and Correa didn’t start. Griezmann didn’t play at all. The French striker returned after missing several games due to injury. Having him back at 100 percent is the extra dose of motivation that Atletico needed for this challenge.
Believe it or not, Los Colchoneros didn’t win a single home game during the Group Stage. That’s why they’re offering a +150 price in the sportsbook. Enough to be the favorite, but not to brag.
Atletico Madrid’s predicted lineup: Jan Oblak; Sime Vrsaljko, Stefan Savic, Jose Maria Gimenez, Renan Lodi; Marcos Llorente, Koke, Hector Herrera, Yannick Carrasco; Joao Felix, Luis Suarez.
Man United on Streak
Manchester United hasn’t lost in its last nine games in all competitions. Most recently, the Red Devils crushed Leeds United 4-2. Believe it or not, Ronaldo didn’t score. Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Anthony Elanga did.
Despite being on a roll, the Red Devils aren’t an EPL title contender. Plus, they were eliminated from the FA Cup in the fourth round by Middlesbrough. The game ended 1-1, while Middlesbrough won the penalty shootout 8-7. In other words, winning the UCL is also all they have left.
The Red Devils won Group F thanks to a 3-2-1 record. Their only loss was on the road against Young Boys. Later, they managed to draw against Atalanta in Bergamo and defeated Villarreal at Estadio La Ceramica. They scored in all three games away from home.
Just like Simeone, Ralf Rangnick also decided to rest several players in their visit to Leeds United. The list includes Marcus Rashford, Alex Telles, Diogo Dalot and Juan Mata. Fresher legs can make a huge difference when you’re facing a team as resilient as Atletico Madrid.
One thing is certain: You won’t find a more tempting underdog to include in your soccer picks than Manchester United, especially at +210.
Manchester United’s predicted lineup: David de Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Fred, Paul Pogba; Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes; Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford.
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Head to Head
- Previous Matches: 2
- Atletico Madrid Victories: 1 (4 goals)
- Manchester United Victories: 0 (1 goal)
- Draws: 1
These two haven’t met since the 1991-92 season. Back then, Atletico Madrid crushed Manchester United 3-0 at home. Later, Los Colchoneros managed to get a draw (1-1) at Old Trafford.
Of course, we’re talking about two very different teams. However, I look forward for another game with plenty of scoring opportunities. I’m telling you, the total going over 2½ goals at +125 is also very tempting.
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Game Information
- Date: Wednesday
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid
- Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Live Stream: fuboTV
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Betting Lines
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Prediction
Forget about recent scores and odds. Atletico Madrid always puts up a good fight against other powerhouses. Plus, Los Colchoneros have gotten better when playing at home, scoring seven goals in their last three games. On the other hand, a team that includes Ronaldo will always put up a good fight. That’s even more accurate when it comes to the UCL, his favorite competition.